Arul Suppiah moved from his native Kuala Lumpur to further his cricket and attend Millfield School. He was given his first-class debut for Somerset in 2002 and has established himself as an opener, also providing useful left-arm spin which produced a record return in a Twenty20 at Glamorgan in 2011.

Suppiah was one of number of younger players to be given a chance in the Somerset first XI in 2005 and he responded with a maiden first-class century against Derbyshire at Derby. He also won the Twenty20 Cup with Somerset that season. 2006 saw him given a run in the side but a return of 563 runs at 29.63 didn't quite take advantage of the opportunity and he played only four first-class matches in the next two seasons.

Regular selection returned in 2009 and Suppiah gobbled his chance with 1,201 runs at 48.04 including three centuries. That return secured his place in the side for the next three years but he couldn't match the huge success of 2009, although he performed solidly.

But he was left out of the side after failing in the opening match of the 2013 season and with several young talented batsman in the Somerset ranks and Nick Compton, the England opener, keen to fill the same role for his county, competition for places is fierce at Taunton.
ESPNcricinfo staff